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Drug trafficking accused further remanded
Accused drug trafficker Walter Aaron made yet another court appearance, this time before Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton.
Aaron is presently being represented by attorney at law Glen Hanoman, who in an unsuccessful bid to secure bail for his client told the court that the case is very “unique”.
The lawyer explained that Aaron received a telephone call from a friend who resides overseas enquiring if he; Aaron, could pick up his girlfriend who is coming from Canada.
Hanoman said that Aaron being the “kind hearted” person agreed. He said that the same friend called back and told Aaron that he would be sending some money so that he could make a down payment for a hotel room for his “girl friend”.
Walter Aaron
The lawyer said that the money was never sent to his client, but Aaron nevertheless picked up the two Canadian women and gave them shelter at his house, because they were “broke”.
“My worship these two young ladies came to Guyana without any money and my client looked out for them” Hanoman argued.
He said that after the two females came to his client’s house, they were attacked by an army of “cockroaches”.
The lawyer stated that Aaron now had to accumulate whatever little money he had to place the women at the cheapest hotel.
Hanoman questioned that if his client was really involved in trafficking in narcotics why he would house the females at his home.
“My worship, why would my client keep the girls at his house knowing that if they are caught it would be easily traced back to him” Hanoman said. However, Special Prosecutor for Customs Anti Narcotics Unit, Oswald Massiah, objected to bail and stated that his facts differ from that offered by the defence.
Massiah said, that the defendant is definitely associated with the Canadians defendants.
The prosecutor further argued that the two females came specifically to Guyana to visit with Aaron.
He said that the prosecution would lead evidence to show that defendant (Aaron) was the “key player” in which the illegal substance was involved.
Messiah further stressed that the prosecution has sufficient evidence to show that Aaron was the architect of the crime, and the issue of him being a “good Samaritan” is frivolous.
Bail was denied and the accused is expected to make another court appearance on August 24.
Aaron, 37, of East Ruimveldt, who is a local singer, was charged last Friday in connection with the cocaine bust at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, on June 23 last. It was alleged that Aaron, on June 23 had in his possession 1.28 kilograms of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking in narcotics, he subsequently pleaded guilty to that charge which was read to him by Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson.
Canadian student, Brittany Shand, 20, was also charged and remanded in connection with that same drug bust. It was alleged that Shand, on June 22 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, had in her possession 1.28 kilos of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking in narcotics. The other Canadian student is still to be charged.
On June 22, the two Canadians aged 20 and 21, were outgoing passengers on a Canada-bound Caribbean Airlines flight (BW662) at the time, when they were held by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) at approximately 10.30 am.
Searches carried out on the women’s luggage, revealed a quantity of “artfully hidden cocaine”, the CANU source said. The Canadians were taken into CANU custody where they subsequently confessed to swallowing “cocaine pellets”.
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